Method of making glue and a plastic



July 2, 1935. L, FUHRMANN 2,006,735

METHOD OF MAKING GLUE AND A PLASTIC MATERIAL AND PRODUCT THEREOF Filed June 27, 1932 am an Patented July 2, 1935 PATENT OFFICE AND PRODUCE THEREOF METHOD OF MAKING GLUE AND A PLASTIC MATERIAL Louis J. Fuhrmann, Peoria, nl., assignor to Allied Mills, Inc., Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application June e7, 1932,. Serial No. 619,442 3 Claims. (01. 1.34-4.33)

This invention relates to a'method of producing both a liquid glue and a plastic substance from vegetable protein material, and the product resulting from practicing such method. 5 An object of my invention is a method of treatment of vegetable protein material by which Y to produce a liquid glue suitablefor use in the arts, that is extremely tenacious, non-inflammable, moisture resistant, that is insoluble in water, insoluble in organic or inorganic acids, and insoluble in alcohols or ethers.

A further object lies in producing a liquid glue from vegetable protein material wholly suited for many uses including making of ply-wood and for purposes of like nature, or where a good glue is needed requiring toughness and strength, and that is moisture resistant and insoluble in any knownsolvent, or mixtures thereof.

'Another-object is the production of a substance resulting from the treatment of vegetable protein material that when reduced to 'comparative dryness yields a substance that is extremely tough, unbreakable, non-inflammable, moisture and waterproof, and insoluble in known solvents or mixtures thereof, and that answers as an excellent dielectric.

Still another object is the production of a substance through treatment of vegetable protein material vthat when reduced to a plastic condition may be molded into various shapes, or placed in molds for creating articles of ornament or utility, and that after being dried that is unbreakable, is a non-conductor of the electric current and therefore suitable for making insulating parts for use in electric apparatus and fixtures. v

In carrying out my method I employ any suit- ,able type ofclosedapparatus, two forms of which,-

as examples, are illustrated in the ing drawing lent glue, and which maybe used for producing a plastic substance, both of which products enter into my invention. Bylong experiment I have determined that the vegetable proteins in certain substances such, for example, as cottonseed teriorate and will retain its liquid state indefiuel! meal, or soy bean meal, can be treated for the production of the named products, flour made from soy bean oil cake being particularly suitable for the purpose. Soy bean oil cake is, in fact, an

admirable material for such purpose, the oil hav- 5 ing been removed from the been, of course, by any of the approved ways such as by expressing or by the use of solvents, followed by grinding the oil cake into flour, these preliminary steps, however, in no way entering into my invention since old and well known. 7

My experience has shown that when the vegetable protein of soy bean flour is treated with an alkali, such asib'arium hydroxide, alkali carbonate, or preferably potassium hydroxide or sodium hydroxide, especially the. former of the last two named hydroxides, and kept in this state for some time at ordinary temperature, and afterward boiled *for about sixty minutes at a temperature 195 Fahrenheit with a phenol into a clear and very fine liquid glue that when preserved in air tight containers will not de- Flnther, a plastic substance may be'formed by evaporating the resultant glue suiflciently to produce a plastic mass which lends itself to ready shaping into desired forms, or vof being placed in molds, whereupon by furtherdrying or baking the prevloushr named articles are produced.

Upon analysis, soy bean oil cake is found to contain the following in about the proportions named, i. e., 42% protein, 10% moisture, 7% crude fiber, 5.5% fat, and 27% nitrogen-free extract. e

Soy bean flour made from the oil cake is preferably used in practice since it can be handled at a lower cost than the whole bean and of importance is the fact that it makes a better glue and consequently a better plastic substance by reason of the reduced oil content,

The following steps are used in practice andsubstantially in the manner described: I

In making the glue I an mesh sieve, and parts of a 10% solution of potassium hydroxide. This is allowed to stand for from fifteen to twenty hours at ordi- I exposed to be the best strength for the pipe K from the discharge purposes.

- use, and is a clear substance nary temperatm'e to permit the whole to dig ready for the treatment to follow. This preliminary treatment of the mixture'hydrolises the protein or colloidal material by the use of the potassium of which the named 10% has been found purpose. It has that the material must stand hours for complete digestion otherwise the resultant adhesive will not be as strong as it is possible to have it, in addition to which the product in the final treatment will present a very poor appearance due to being more or less cloudy and unsuited for display objects due to such appearance.

After the expiration of the said period of from fifteen to twenty hours I incorporate with the mixture parts of a 55% solution of phenol and about 60 parts of a 40% solution of formaldehyde following which the entire mass is thoroughly mixed andlrept in agitation in a closed vessel, while boiling, for approximately sixty minutes at about 195 Fahrenheit, the addition of the phenol resulting in the production of a clear mixture wholly transparent, besides being of greater bulk due'to the long period of digestion than could otherwise be realized from the same amount of materials. The chemical action is not quite known to the chemist is the desired unclouded material-and the transparent final product.

The bean flour is preferably. employed from the fact that faster action is had than with a coars bean meal. Again, the boiling temperature of at least 195 F. is desirable merely in the interest of saving of'time.

As an example of an apparatus suitable for my use, Figure 1 illustrates a vessel A having a heating coil B therein, and provided with an-agitator C. A reflux condenser is denoted provided with heads E, for example, through and between which are water tubes F. Cooling water enters through a pipe G, and flows upwardly through the tubes overflowing at the pipe H. The vessel A is connected at its top with the space between the heads E by a vapor pipe J, while-a return said space between the heads It leads back into the said vessel. under treatment may through any opening as L, for example, the vapors passing to the condenser and returning without loss, a drawif pipe being shown-at M for the outlet of the finished glue.

Again, I show inFigure 2 a tank] having a heating coil 2, and an agitator 3. In the use of this form the materials are all held in the one piece of apparatus, an opening 4 being provided for charging, and a pipe 5 may be supplied for been found, also, for at least flfteen After the material has been boiled for about the period of time stated it is ready to be drawn 011 and maybe placed in suitable containers for having no residue or settlings.

If a too weak phenol solution is used the particles of alkaline treated material are not completely dissolved, while if the percentage of. phenol is too high, the resultant glue dries very fast and tends to brittleness.

In order, now, to produce the described plastic material the thus finished glue to the air until it dries to a plastic condition suitable for working into shape,

at any rate the result.

atD,being ing -mitted to hydrolyze, adding be placed in-the vessel matter of time saving and thus more rapidly moisture is driven oil it may be form desired or it can be poured or molds and then dried, or again, it may be baked in the moulds at about Fahrenheit.

In the known methods in the present art the matter of a time interval has not been considered between any of the steps during the treatment of the vegetable matter for the purpose of enriching or improving the uality of the final product.- In my method, however, rials used and because of the produced an interval of time between the steps as outlined is of great advantage, and in fact wholly necessary in obtaining the final ruult pointed out. when the product is dried beyond the glue stage for a plastic it is necessarily of due appearance since wholly clear and transparent due to the complete digestion of the materials in the early stage of treatment. It follows; therefore, that if a better glue results because of such complete digestion the dried product must also be better.

.transparent" are obviously directed to persons familiar, with the adhesive art .and these words are not intended to describe the product as crystal clear in the sense that water is clear. On the other hand, these expressions mean that the product is of even consistency and without perceptible grain or particles even though somewhat brownish in color. The product is marked by a freedom from suspended or other noticeable particles andin that sense is clear.

I claim:

1. In a method of making protein material, the method substantially 60 parts vegetable terial with 100 parts 01a 10% solution, and after a period of from fifteen to twenty hours during which the proteins are perthereto substantially B0partsofa55%phenolandsubstantially60 parts of 40% formaldehyde, mixing the whole, and boiling the same out of the for approximately sixty minutes at F. while under agitation.

2. In a method ofmaking an adhesive compound from vegetable protein material, the steps which consist in mixing vegetable protein flour with a potassium hydroxide solution, allowin the mixture to stand for a period of from fifteen to twenty hours to permit the protein or colloidal material to hydrolize completely, and after the named period thoroughly incorporating with the mixture a solution of phenol and formaldehyde, and boiling the whole for approximately sixty minutes at about 195 Fahrenheit.

3. In a method of making an adhesive substance from vegetable protein material, the method which includes mixing substantially 60 parts of vegetable protein flour with substantially 100 parts of a 10% potassium hydroxide solution, permitting the mixture .to become whollyhydrolized during a period of from fifteen ;to twenty hours, and then adding thereto substantially 80 parts of a 55% solution of phenol, and substantially 60 parts of a 55% solution of formaldehyde, and boiling the same for approximately sixty minutes at 195 Fahrenheit.

glue from vegetable substantially LOUIS J. FUHRMIAN which includes miX sodium hydroxide pressed into 4s presence of air 

